Wednesday, August 31, 2011

CDC has posted an article about chainsaw safety, because each year, approximately 36,000 people are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries from using chain saws.
The potential risk of injury increases after hurricanes and other natural disasters, when chain saws are widely used to remove fallen or partially fallen trees and tree branches.

* Operate, adjust, and maintain the saw according to manufacturer’s instructions provided in the manual accompanying the chain saw.
* Properly sharpen chain saw blades and properly lubricate the blade with bar and chain oil. Additionally, the operator should periodically check and adjust the tension of the chain saw blade to ensure good cutting action.
* Choose the proper size of chain saw to match the job, and include safety features such as a chain brake, front and rear hand guards, stop switch, chain catcher and a spark arrester.
* Wear the appropriate protective equipment, including hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, heavy work gloves, cut-resistant legwear (chain saw chaps) that extend from the waist to the top of the foot, and boots which cover the ankle.
* Avoid contact with power lines until the lines are verified as being de-energized.
* Always cut at waist level or below to ensure that you maintain secure control over the chain saw.
* Bystanders or coworkers should remain at least 2 tree lengths (at least 150 feet) away from anyone felling a tree and at least 30 feet from anyone operating a chain saw to remove limbs or cut a fallen tree
* If injury occurs, apply direct pressure over site(s) of heavy bleeding; this act may save lives.

Beware of injury from the release of bent trees or branches

Take extra care in cutting “spring poles”: trees or branches that have gotten bent, twisted, hung up on, or caught under another object during a high wind. If the tree or the branch is suddenly released, it may strike the person cutting it, or a bystander, with enough force to cause serious injury or death. Even a seemingly small tree or branch (2 inches in diameter, for example) may pose a hazard when it is released from tension.

To avoid injury:

* Identify the maximum point of tension on the spring pole
* Slowly shave the underside of the tree rather than cut through to allow the tree or branch to release tension slowly

How the public can help

* It is best to have a chain saw operator who has training and experience in safe chain saw use and cutting techniques to fell and remove limbs from trees.
* Be sure that bystanders are at a safe distance from cutting activities, the chain saw operator uses personal protective equipment, and workers follow safety guidelines.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Bristol-Myers Squibb And Pfizer Announce Data Presentations For Apixaban At European Society of Cardiology Congress 2011

New Data Presentations from Largest Phase 3 Clinical Trial Program for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation

Multiple data presentations for ELIQUIS® (apixaban), an oral direct Factor Xa inhibitor being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), will be given at the European Society of Cardiology Congress, August 27-31, 2011, in Paris, France.

Globally-conducted registrational studies evaluating ELIQUIS for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation will be presented during the congress. Of note is the first presentation of the comprehensive analysis of ARISTOTLE (Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation) during the Hot Line session on Sunday, August 28th.

Presentations on ELIQUIS at the Congress include:

About Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. It is estimated that more than 5 million Americans and 6 million individuals in the European Union have AF. The lifetime risk of atrial fibrillation is estimated to be approximately one in four for individuals 40 years of age or older. The underlying threat of atrial fibrillation is the increased risk of stroke, which is five times higher in people with atrial fibrillation than those without atrial fibrillation. In fact, 15 percent of all strokes in the U.S. are attributable to atrial fibrillation.

About ARISTOTLE and AVERROES

The ELIQUIS stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation clinical trial program was designed to comprehensively evaluate ELIQUIS in approximately 24,000 patients with atrial fibrillation requiring stroke prevention, including patients who are expected or demonstrated to be unsuitable for vitamin K antagonist therapy.

ARISTOTLE, a double-blind, multicenter, head-to-head Phase 3 trial, randomized more than 18,000 patients with atrial fibrillation from over 1,000 centers in about 40 countries. Patients were randomized to receive either ELIQUIS 5 mg twice daily (2.5 mg twice daily in selected patients) or dose-adjusted warfarin (titrated to a target INR range of 2.0 to 3.0). The key study outcomes were prespecified in a hierarchical manner that sequentially tested ELIQUIS versus warfarin for noninferiority on the composite endpoint of stroke or systemic embolism; superiority on the composite endpoint of stroke or systemic embolism; superiority on major bleeding; and superiority on all-cause death.

The AVERROES study evaluated ELIQUIS compared to aspirin in 5,599 patients with atrial fibrillation at risk for stroke who were demonstrated or expected to be unsuitable for vitamin K antagonist therapy.

About ELIQUIS

ELIQUIS is the approved trade name for apixaban in Europe and the proposed trade name in the United States. ELIQUIS is not approved in any country for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer recently announced the first regulatory approval for ELIQUIS in the 27 countries of the European Union (EU) for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in adult patients who have undergone elective hip or knee replacement surgery. Apixaban is not currently approved in the United States.

ELIQUIS is being investigated within the EXPANSE Clinical Trials Program, which is projected to include nearly 60,000 patients worldwide across multiple indications and patient populations and includes a total of nine completed or ongoing, randomized, double-blind Phase 3 trials, including ARISTOTLE and AVERROES.

In addition to stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation and the prevention of VTE in patients who have undergone total hip or total knee replacement surgery, ELIQUIS is being investigated in Phase 3 trials for the treatment of VTE and the prevention of VTE in hospitalized acutely ill medical patients.

About the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer Collaboration

In 2007, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb entered into a worldwide collaboration to develop and commercialize ELIQUIS, an investigational oral anticoagulant discovered by Bristol-Myers Squibb. This global alliance combines Bristol-Myers Squibb’s long-standing strengths in cardiovascular drug development and commercialization with Pfizer’s global scale and expertise in this field.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The effects of CPAP therapy withdrawal in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a randomised controlled trial

Rationale:

To establish a new approach to investigate the physiological effects of OSA, and evaluate novel treatments, during a period of CPAP-withdrawal.

Objectives: To determine the effects of CPAP-withdrawal Measurements and main results:

41 OSA patients on CPAP were randomized to either CPAP-withdrawal (subtherapeutic-CPAP), or continue CPAP, for two weeks. Polysomnography, sleepiness, psychomotor performance, endothelial function, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), urinary catecholamines, blood markers of systemic inflammation and metabolism were assessed. CPAP-withdrawal lead to a recurrence of OSA within a few days and a return of subjective sleepiness, but was not associated with significant deterioration of psychomotor performance within two weeks.

CPAP is a common treatment for OSA patients, whose breathing is interrupted many times during sleep due to the repeated blockage of the upper airway. CPAP keeps the airway open by pumping a continuous stream of air through a mask or nose piece the patient wears while sleeping.

This Swiss study included patients on CPAP therapy who were randomly selected to either continue or discontinue CPAP for two weeks. Those who stopped CPAP experienced a return of OSA and sleepiness within a few days. Within 14 days, they had significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure, and a deterioration in vascular function.

The results suggest that even a short break in CPAP therapy has a negative effect on the cardiovascular system, the researchers said.

They also noted their findings show that OSA patients need to continuously use CPAP, including taking their machines with them on holidays.

The study appears online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that can be serious. In sleep apnea, your breathing stops or gets very shallow. Each pause in breathing typically lasts 10 to 20 seconds or more. These pauses can occur 20 to 30 times or more an hour.

The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea. That means you are unable to get enough air through your mouth and nose into your lungs. When that happens, the amount of oxygen in your blood may drop. Normal breaths resume with a snort or choking sound. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.

When your sleep is interrupted throughout the night, you can be drowsy during the day. People with sleep apnea are at higher risk for car crashes, work-related accidents and other medical problems. If you have it, it is important to get treatment.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Your body needs calcium to build strong bones when you are young and to keep bones strong as you get older. Your body needs calcium to help build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis (bone loss). Everyone needs calcium, but it’s especially important for women and girls.

Girls ages 9 to 18 need 1,300 mg (milligrams) of calcium every day.
Women ages 19 to 50 need 1,000 mg of calcium every day.
Women over age 50 need 1,200 mg of calcium every day.
Calcium can help prevent osteoporosis (weak bones).
One in 2 women and 1 in 4 men over the age of 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis (“os-tee-oh-puh-ROH-sis”). Some people don’t know they have osteoporosis until they break a bone.

Calcium helps to keep your bones strong and less likely to break.

Calcium: Shopping list

Take this list with you the next time you go food shopping. Keep these tips in mind for getting enough calcium:

Foods with at least 20% DV (daily value) of calcium are excellent choices. Check the nutrition label to see the % DV. Foods with less calcium will also help you meet your daily calcium goal.
Don’t forget vitamin D. Vitamin D helps your body use calcium. You can get vitamin D from salmon, tuna, and some foods with added vitamin D (like milk, breakfast cereals, and juice). Check the label.
Milk and Milk Products

Look for fat-free or low-fat milk products. (Lactose-reduced milk products are also good sources of calcium.)

These green vegetables can be a great way to get more calcium. If you buy them canned, look for choices that say “low sodium” or “no salt added”. If you buy frozen vegetables, choose ones without butter or cream sauces.

Monday, August 08, 2011

Getting ready for the new school year, among new clothes, bags and lunch boxes, do not forget about the immunizations. You need to make sure all the children are vaccinated to protect them from various deceases.In addition to being protective, it might be required by your state to immunize children against certain deceases like Whooping Cough (pertussis), if you are unsure inquire with your doctor, school or your health department.Some vaccine controllable deceases have become rare but there are instances of flair ups like the 2010's whooping cough, or measles cases reported this year. The only timely vaccinations will keep yours and other children safe from these preventable but deadly deceases.

It is not easy to to track down if you miss a vaccination shot and to help you with that, CDC and Georgia Tech have developed the Catch-Up Immunization Scheduler, an online tool that shows parents and healthcare providers the best options for getting children 6 years of age and younger back on schedule.

Parents can find out what vaccines their children need and when the doses should be given by reviewing the nationally recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule.

During the early years of life, children are recommended to get vaccines to protect them from 14 diseases that can be serious, even life-threatening. Parents who choose not to vaccinate their own children increase the risk of disease not only for their children, but also for other children and adults throughout the entire community. For example, vulnerable newborns too young to have received the maximum protection from the recommended doses of vaccines or people with weakened immune systems such as some people with cancer and transplant recipients are also at higher risk of disease.

Flu vaccines are recommended for kids in pre-school and elementary school to help keep them healthy. In fact, all children 6 months and older should get flu vaccines. Getting all of your children vaccinated – as well as other family members and caregivers – also can help protect infants younger than 6 months old. Ask your family's doctor or nurse about getting flu shots or the nasal spray to protect them against flu.

Older children need vaccines, too! Of course, everyone older than 6 months of age is recommended to receive a yearly flu vaccination, and older children are no exception! It's important to know that flu can be serious, even for healthy young people. So older kids should get at least one flu shot every year.
As kids get older, they are more at risk for catching diseases, like meningococcal meningitis, so they need protection that vaccines provide. The recommended immunization schedule is regularly updated to include new vaccines and reflect current research. So, it has probably changed since your child was first immunized. Specific vaccines, like HPV, are recommended to be given during the preteen (11-12) years and teen (13-18) years. If kids don't get these vaccines on time, they should get caught up as soon as possible.
For other diseases, like whooping cough, the protection from vaccine doses received in childhood wears off over time. That's why 11- and 12-year-olds are also recommended to get the booster shot called Tdap. Teens—and adults, too—who have not gotten Tdap should get this booster as soon as possible. Tdap is a version of the DTaP vaccine given to infants and young children.